In early 2024 we decided to explore a little industry while we were out of town. This was one of our first trips with no other reason than to explore and relax. We hit many smaller locations on our way up north, including numerous farmhouses and anything else that caught our eye. We got up before sunrise and headed to our destination. I had no idea the actual size of the business my lady was taking us to. This place was massive. An old paper products company in northern Wisconsin lay before us. It gave us hours to just roam around and soak in all the smaller details.
For a time this place and piece of industry were the largest employer in the community. This company changed names and products often. From logging and saw mills, to progressively finer paper production. Everything from newsprint and wrapping paper(for goods, not presents), was produced here. After being in business and production for over 80 years they drastically changed the surrounding landscape to suit this growing company’s needs. In 1925 work started on creating a man-made reservoir and lake. Most man-made reservoirs are created with plans to produce hydroelectric power, yet no electricity would be produced here. The goal was to provide the cleanest water possible, to create the whitest sheets of fine paper. This paper was used for all aspects of printing and writing. They even produced a line of high end watermarked writing papers.
As we got closer to the building I thought it was only going to be offices and storage warehouses. We went through so many smaller section of this larger company. It was truly fascinating. The more we roamed around, the more we really began to see! Everything from chemical and dye testing areas, to the large vats for mixing and breaking down the pulp, it was all still here. This place was also located on a body of water with a dam very near by. Waterways, early industry, and paper companies have always gone together!
Further back on the property there were 2 large old production buildings in various states of demolition. The vast open spaces and fields between these buildings felt like a moonscape. Bricks and other building materials lay strewn about in these fields filling the various craters that dotted this landscape. From the top section of one of the remaining buildings there were 2 large intact belts from the conveyors. These conveyor belts swung freely in the wind. We could’ve spend a full weekend here trying to document all the details and history that this place held.
There were also a couple of hallways where the regrowth was as vibrant and lush as a 70’s shag carpet. The green regrowth stretched through the open doorways and down the hallway anywhere where the sunlight flowed in. This living “carpet” looked as soft as you can imagine. I was a bit saddened when I stepped on it and realized my footprint would remain. Then I realized that there were other footprints on it as well, and we may not be alone. Luckily we were slowly making our way back to our exit.
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A good portion of our photos will be the same of similar. We have a very similar eye when it comes to photos. Even when we aren’t near each other, we end up with the same shots..
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This 1st gallery of photos will be this site through Rita’s lens.
Now this abandoned paper products site through my lens! As always, sorry for any similar shots. We tend to like the same shots. Rita’s are usually more thought out!
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